[BULBS-L] Spring Wildflower Walk

diana chapman rarebulbs@earthlink.net
Sun, 20 Apr 2003 11:11:51 PDT
Dear Joyce:

I was at Table Mountain two or three weeks ago to see the annuals which are
at their peak about the end of March, with bulbs about a month later.  I
thought it a bit dry this year, but it is always very beautiful.  I used to
live about fifteen minutes away from Table Mountain, and it was a daily
experience to go there from about October until the end of spring.  I miss
it very much.

As for collecting green seed:  I have had success with Brodiaea, Triteleia,
Allium and Dichelostemma, as well as Trillium (which actually germinates
better if green).  Of course, it depends on HOW immature the seeds are - if
the pods are not completely filled out it is a waste of time. If they are
mature but green (embryo and endosperm fully developed), they will ripen.
If they are truly immature, they won't.  Getting back to collect ripe seed
can be difficult, so it's usually worth a try.  With the above genera, it is
fairly easy to tell if they are worth sowing or not since if they were too
immature when collected they will shrivel.

Diana

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joyce Miller" <onager@midtown.net>
To: "Discussion List for geophytes of the world (Bulbs)"
<BULBS-L@NIC.SURFNET.NL>; <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 10:04 AM
Subject: [pbs] Re: [BULBS-L] Spring Wildflower Walk


>
> Hi all,
> Wild flower walks seem to be the activity of the season.  Yesterday, I
> joined the University of California, at Davis, Botany Club on a field trip
> to Table Mountain.  Table Mountain has an elevation of 1,000 ft (roughly
> 300 metres) and is located east of Oroville, California, in the lower
> Sierra Nevada foothills.  Table Mountain is a basalt area, flat and the
> site of multiple of vernal pools.  I was fascinated.  Some of our
> California natives bulbs were flowering:  Brodeia, Bloomeria,
Dichlostemma,
> Allium, etc.
>
> Wonderful outing.   The benefit of going with that group is that they can
> identify some of the wild flowers and some dutiful soul always brings the
> Jepson Manual (of California Native Plants)as well as a list of the plants
> for that area.
>
>    I was able to collect some immature seed pods.  This, BTW, is the point
> of my note.  One botanist holds that immature seed pods will continue to
> ripen and cure off the mother plant when placed in a light, airy, warm
> place.  Over the years, there have been many inquires about when to
harvest
> seed.  I am especially hopeful the Allium sp seeds will ripen so that I
can
> raise it for the California Native Plant Society Demonstration Garden in
> Sacramento, California.
>
> Just the Saturday prior, I had taken an all day class in the
> identification of plants.  Having that experience, I will never look at a
> flower the same.  And now I have the tools to identify plants.
>
> Best wishes, Joyce Miller, Sacramento, California. Zone 9A
>
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